Research universities have long been the driving force behind scientific discoveries, a cradle for innovations, and the source of ideas shaping the future of societies. These prestigious institutions generate knowledge and serve it for society's benefit, enhancing the country’s competitive edge.

Historically, research universities have gained prominence since the 19th century due to their missions in education, science, and societal contributions, eventually evolving into a model based on knowledge production and innovation. In our country, universities nominated or approved as research universities are evaluated based on criteria set by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), updated annually, and categorized under three main headings.

Firstly, the Research Capacity Criteria (40% weight) measure the strength and effectiveness of our university's scientific activities. Research output is generally expressed by the number of scientific publications, while the number of citations these publications receive reflects the level of academic impact. The amount of funding and number of accepted projects from national and international projects—key factors supporting the development of universities' research infrastructure—indicate the level of support a university has received in meeting contemporary needs. Applications and grants for patents serve as one of the essential indicators of a university's demonstrated competence in the field of innovation.

Research Quality Criteria (40% weight) are set to measure not the quantity but the quality of academic output. The ratio of publications in high-quality academic journals to total publications and the number of citations from reputable journals emphasizes the importance of adding new and high-quality knowledge to the literature. The percentage of open-access publications is considered a crucial indicator of sharing knowledge with broader audiences, while our accredited programs enable graduates to share acquired knowledge internationally. Awards received by our esteemed academics serve as a source of pride for our university and as indicators of the high quality of research conducted.

Finally, the Interaction and Collaboration Criteria (20% weight) assesses our university’s level of collaboration with other institutions and industry. Publications conducted in partnership with industry highlight our university's role in knowledge sharing and technology transfer. Projects funded by public resources reflect the university’s social impact, while the proportions of international students and academic staff strengthen our university’s standing in terms of cultural diversity and global appeal.

These criteria guide our university in shaping its research and development strategies, providing a roadmap to further advance our achievements in R&D. Our university is fully committed to becoming a research university by pioneering scientific knowledge production, innovation, and technology development.

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